Stripline phase shifter

Abstract

Embodiments of the present description provide a stripline phase shifter, which is applied to the field of phase shifters. The stripline phase shifter comprises phase shifting plates and phase shifting patches arranged on the surfaces of the phase shifting plates; empty slots are formed on a surface of each phase shifting plate; a printed circuit board is arranged on the surface of the phase shifting plate; the phase shifting patches are mounted corresponding to the empty slots; the surface of each phase-shifting patch attached to the corresponding phase shifting plate is provided with a phase-shifting conductor in contact with the printed circuit board; the portion of the phase shifting conductor connected to the printed circuit board is a connection circuit; the length of the connection circuit is changed when the phase shifting patch rotates, so as to adjust the phase of the circuit; and the connection circuit is exposed in the corresponding empty slot. According to the stripline phase shifter, the phase shifter can normally achieve a phase changing function, and the connection circuits are exposed in the empty slots, thereby avoiding circuit loss caused by a medium, and greatly reducing the loss generated by the phase shifter and the device power in the same network coverage range, facilitating practical applications.

Description

A stripline phase shifter

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on December 5, 2023, with application number 202311658855.9 and application name “A Stripline Phase Shifter”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of phase shifters, and in particular to a stripline phase shifter. Background Art

[0003] Phase shifters are devices used to adjust the phase of waves and are widely used in various communications-related fields. In particular, base station antennas are often equipped with phase shifters. Reducing losses in the feeder network of base station antennas can effectively improve efficiency, and phase shifters in the feeder network account for a large portion of these losses. Therefore, reducing losses in base station antenna feeder networks focuses on reducing losses in phase shifters.

[0004] Currently, the phase shifters used in base station antenna feeder networks are primarily microstrip and dielectric phase shifters. Microstrip phase shifters achieve phase shifts by changing the physical path length of the transmission line. Microstrip phase shifters, in particular, have relatively high losses, particularly due to their semi-open structure, which results in high dielectric and radiation losses. Dielectric phase shifters achieve phase shifts by altering the equivalent dielectric constant of the transmission line. While closed, they do not experience radiation losses, but still exhibit high dielectric losses due to the presence of dielectric surrounding the transmission line. Therefore, further reducing the circuit losses of phase shifters while ensuring application performance is a pressing issue.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the embodiments of this specification is to provide a stripline phase shifter to solve the problem of how to reduce circuit loss caused by the phase shifter.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the embodiments of this specification propose a stripline phase shifter, comprising a phase shifter plate and a phase shifter sheet arranged on the surface of the phase shifter plate; the surface of the phase shifter plate is provided with an empty slot; the surface of the phase shifter plate is a printed circuit board; the phase shifter sheet is installed corresponding to the empty slot; a phase shifter conductor in contact with the printed circuit board is provided on the side of the phase shifter sheet that is in contact with the phase shifter plate; the portion of the phase shifter conductor that is connected to the printed circuit board is an access circuit; the access circuit changes length when the phase shifter plate rotates to adjust the circuit phase; and the access circuit is exposed in the empty slot.

[0008] In some embodiments, the phase shifter includes an upper phase shifter and a lower phase shifter; the upper phase shifter and the lower phase shifter are respectively installed on different surfaces of the phase shifter plate.

[0009] In some embodiments, the phase shifter is a sector-shaped phase shifter; the phase shifter rotates based on a central axis; and the phase shift circuit is arranged based on the arc edge and the central axis of the sector-shaped phase shifter.

[0010] Based on the above embodiment, the central axis point of the phase shifter is mounted on the phase shifter plate based on the rotation axis.

[0011] Based on the above embodiment, the rotating shaft includes a clamping structure; the clamping structure is used to clamp the rotating shafts installed with the upper and lower phase shifters when the upper and lower phase shifters are respectively arranged on different surfaces of the stripline phase shifter.

[0012] Based on the aforementioned embodiment, the empty slot is a fan-shaped slot that matches the shape of the fan-shaped phase shifter.

[0013] In some embodiments, the stripline phase shifter further includes a pull rod, and the pull rod is used to control the rotation of the phase shifter.

[0014] Based on the above embodiment, the pull rod includes a sawtooth pull rod; a sawtooth bar matching the sawtooth pull rod is fixed on the phase shifter; when the sawtooth pull rod is pulled, the phase shifter is rotated via the sawtooth bar.

[0015] In some embodiments, the phase shifter includes a first dielectric substrate, a second dielectric substrate, and the phase-shifting conductor; the second dielectric substrate and the phase-shifting conductor constitute a circuit board; and the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate are pressed together.

[0016] Based on the above embodiment, the first dielectric substrate is provided with a hollow groove corresponding to the arrangement position of the phase-shifting conductor.

[0017] In some embodiments, the stripline phase shifter further includes a cavity; the phase shifter plate and the phase shifter sheet are disposed inside the cavity.

[0018] As can be seen from the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification, in this embodiment, the phase shifter comprises a phase shifter plate and a phase shifter sheet. The phase shifter plate has a slot formed on its surface and a printed circuit board (PCB). Accordingly, the phase shifter sheet is mounted corresponding to the slot. The phase-shifting conductor on the phase shifter sheet contacts the PCB of the phase shifter plate, forming an access circuit. The access circuit changes length as the phase shifter plate rotates, thereby changing the length of the circuit connected to the PCB, thereby adjusting the phase. Furthermore, the access circuit is exposed in the slot, exposing the access circuit portion directly to air, thereby avoiding circuit losses caused by the surrounding dielectric. The stripline phase shifter can adjust the phase of the circuit by changing the length of the access circuit on the phase shifter sheet, enabling the phase shifter to function properly. Furthermore, by providing the slots in the phase shifter plate and exposing the access circuit within the slots, there is no dielectric surrounding this portion of the access circuit, thus avoiding circuit losses caused by the dielectric. This significantly reduces the losses incurred by the phase shifter and reduces the device power consumption for the same network coverage, facilitating practical applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG1 is a structural diagram of a stripline phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of two phase shifting plates laminated to each other according to an embodiment of the present specification;

[0021] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase-shifting film according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG4 is a layered structure diagram of a phase-shifting film according to an embodiment of the present specification;

[0023] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a rotating shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG6 is a top view of the structure of a phase shifter according to an embodiment of this specification.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals: 1. Phase shifter; 11. Printed circuit board; 2. Phase shifter; 21. First dielectric substrate; 22. Second dielectric substrate; 23. Phase shifter conductor; 3. Rotating shaft; 31. Clamping structure; 4. Pull rod; 5. Cavity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] "Green and low-carbon" development is a key goal across all industries. For mobile communications base station antennas, increasing antenna gain by 1dBi while maintaining coverage effectively reduces antenna transmit power by 10%-20%, saving 10%-20% in electricity and achieving environmental protection. The gain of a base station antenna is equal to the product of its directivity and efficiency. To increase gain without changing the directivity, efficiency must be improved.

[0027] For base station antennas, reducing the loss of the feeder network can effectively improve efficiency. However, the phase shifter components in the feeder network account for most of the loss, so reducing the loss is a key task. Currently, the phase shifters used in base station antenna feeder networks in the industry are mainly microstrip phase shifters and dielectric phase shifters. Microstrip phase shifters achieve phase changes by changing the physical path length of the transmission line; dielectric phase shifters achieve phase changes by changing the dielectric constant around the transmission line to achieve changes in the electrical length of the transmission line. The loss of the currently used microstrip phase shifters is greater than that of dielectric phase shifters. Therefore, devices that require the use of microstrip phase shifters often have higher losses. How to reduce the loss generated by phase shifters is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved.

[0028] Therefore, in order to solve the above technical problems, the embodiments of this specification propose a stripline phase shifter. As shown in FIG1 , the stripline phase shifter includes a phase shift plate 1 and a phase shift sheet 2 .

[0029] The phase shifter 1 forms the main body of the stripline phase shifter. A printed circuit board 11 can be provided on the surface of the phase shifter 1. This printed circuit board 11 can be any type of circuit board, such as a PCB or FPC, without limitation. The phase shifter 1 can be composed of a relatively thin dielectric substrate (8 mils thick) and the printed circuit board 11. For ease of description, the printed circuit board 11 on the phase shifter 1 will be referred to as the top layer circuit.

[0030] At least one slot is dug on the phase shifter plate 1. These slots may correspond to the locations of the phase shifters 2. The slots may be grooves of a certain depth dug on only one side of the phase shifter plate 1, or may be hollow structures dug out.

[0031] Preferably, the shape of the empty slot can be matched with the phase shifter 2. For example, when the phase shifter 2 is a sector-shaped phase shifter 2, the empty slot can also be a sector-shaped slot.

[0032] Since the primary function of a phase shifter is to alter phase, the printed circuit board 11 on the phase shifter plate 1 can be designed based on the phase shift requirements. Specifically, the printed circuit board 11 can correspond to the placement of the phase shifter 2, as shown in the example in Figure 1. In practical applications, phase adjustment is generally coordinated with other devices, so the printed circuit board 11 is connected to the internal circuitry of other devices through interfaces or other connection methods. The printed circuit board 11 can also be adjusted as needed in practical applications, without limitation.

[0033] In some embodiments, the stripline phase shifter may include two phase shifters 1. The two phase shifters 1 are bonded to each other, as shown in FIG2 . A printed circuit board 11 is provided on each surface of the two phase shifters 1, and corresponding phase shifters 2 are provided on each of the different phase shifters 1. The bonded structure of the two phase shifters 1 can form different phase shifting circuits, and the length of the phase shifter can be controlled by connecting the top-layer circuits of the two phase shifters 1. The specific method of bonding the two phase shifters 1 can be set according to the needs of the actual application and is not limited thereto.

[0034] The phase shifter 2 is a module specifically used to change the phase. Since the embodiment of this specification is a stripline phase shifter, which mainly changes the phase by changing the physical path length of the transmission line, the phase shifter 2 can adopt a corresponding design method to change the phase.

[0035] The phase shifter 2 is provided with a phase-shifting conductor 23, which can be provided on the side of the phase shifter 2 that abuts the phase shifter plate 1. When the phase shifter 2 and the phase-shifting conductor 23 abut, the phase-shifting conductor 23 contacts the printed circuit board 1, thereby completing the circuit connection based on the phase-shifting conductor 23. For convenience, the portion of the phase-shifting conductor 23 that connects to the printed circuit board 11 can be referred to as the access circuit. The access circuit can be a portion of the phase-shifting conductor 23 or the entire phase-shifting conductor 23, that is, the length of the access circuit can be changed. Specifically, the length of the access circuit can be changed when the phase shifter 2 rotates, thereby achieving the effect of adjusting the circuit phase.

[0036] Furthermore, the phase shifter 2 is positioned corresponding to the empty slots in the phase shifter plate 1. This ensures that the circuitry on the phase shifter 2 remains exposed in the empty slots during rotation. This means that the circuitry is directly exposed to the air and does not come into contact with any other dielectric material. This exposure of the circuitry to air avoids dielectric loss caused by additional contact with the dielectric, thereby reducing losses in the circuitry. This ensures proper operation of the phase shifter while also reducing power consumption and improving efficiency.

[0037] In some embodiments, the phase shifter 2 may be a sector-shaped phase shifter 2, as shown in FIG3 . The sector-shaped phase shifter 2 may be rotated based on the mid-axis point, i.e., the center portion of the sector. The phase shift circuit may be arranged based on the arc edge and the mid-axis point of the sector-shaped phase shifter 2. When the printed circuit board 11 on the phase shifter plate 1 is arranged corresponding to the phase-shifting conductor 23, when the phase shifter 2 rotates, the arc length connected to the printed circuit board 11 is different, and the length of the circuit connected to the phase-shifting conductor 23 is correspondingly changed, thereby achieving the effect of changing the phase. Based on the mid-axis point, a conductor connected to any position on the arc edge can be constructed, so that the length of the circuit connected to the phase shifter 2 at the same position can be adjusted according to demand.

[0038] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the phase shifter 2, which includes a first dielectric substrate 21, a second dielectric substrate 22, and a phase-shifting conductor 23. The second dielectric substrate 22 can be a thinner dielectric substrate (8 ml thick). The second dielectric substrate 22 and the phase-shifting conductor 23 can be combined to form a printed circuit board (PCB). For convenience, this PCB can be referred to as the underlying circuit. The phase-shifting conductor 23 can be in the shape shown in FIG4 , consisting of an arc edge and a line segment connecting the mid-axis point and the arc edge. As the phase shifter 2 rotates, the length of the conductor connected to the circuit also varies. In practical applications, the shape of the phase-shifting conductor 23 can be adjusted as needed, and this is not a limitation. The second dielectric substrate 22 and the first dielectric substrate 21 can be assembled together through a PCB lamination process, thereby forming the complete structure of the phase shifter 2.

[0039] Preferably, the first dielectric substrate 21 is provided with a slot corresponding to the location of the phase-shifting conductor 23. As shown in FIG4 , the first dielectric substrate 21 is provided with a slot corresponding to the phase-shifting conductor 23. The provision of the slot further reduces the dielectric surrounding the phase-shifting conductor 23, thereby further reducing losses caused by the dielectric surrounding the access circuit and optimizing the power consumption of the phase shifter.

[0040] The shape of the trench can be configured based on actual application requirements. For example, it can completely match the shape of the phase-shifting conductor 23, or, as shown in FIG4 , can conform to the shape of the phase-shifting conductor 23 while ensuring structural stability. In actual applications, the shape of the trench can be configured based on specific requirements and is not limited thereto.

[0041] Accordingly, the stripline phase shifter may further include a rotation axis 3. The phase shifter 2 is mounted on the phase shifter plate 1 via the rotation axis 3. The rotation axis 3 may be mounted at the center axis of the phase shifter 2. While the phase shifter 2 is fixed to the phase shifter plate 1, the phase shifter 2 can rotate about the rotation axis 3, thereby changing the length of the connected circuit and adjusting the circuit phase.

[0042] When the stripline phase shifter includes two layers of mutually bonded phase shift plates 1, a rotation axis 3 is also provided for different phase shift plates 1. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG5 , the rotation axis 3 may include a snap-fit ​​structure 31. The snap-fit ​​structure 31 can be used to snap-fit ​​the rotation axis 3 mounted on the upper phase shift plate 2 to the rotation axis 3 mounted on the lower phase shift plate 2. When the two rotation axes 3 are snap-fitted to each other, rotating either rotation axis 3 will also drive the rotation of the other rotation axis 3, thereby optimizing the overall characteristics of the stripline phase shifter. The specific snap-fit ​​process and details of the snap-fit ​​structure 31 can be configured according to actual application conditions and will not be elaborated here.

[0043] To achieve rotation of the phase shifter 2, the stripline phase shifter may further include a pull rod 4. As shown in Figure 1, the pull rod 4 can control the rotation of the phase shifter 2. Specifically, the pull rod 4 and the phase shifter 2 may be connected in a corresponding binding relationship, so that pulling the pull rod 4 can drive the rotation of the phase shifter 2.

[0044] In some embodiments, the pull rod 4 may be a serrated pull rod 4, and accordingly, a serrated bar corresponding to the serrated pull rod 4 may be fixed on the phase shifter 2. In order to ensure that the phase shifter 2 can rotate, the serrated bar may be provided on the arc edge of the phase shifter 2. The serrated bar matches the serrated structure of the serrated pull rod 4, and the two are interlocked after installation. While pulling the serrated pull rod 4, the serrated plate is driven to move, thereby achieving the effect of pulling the phase shifter 2 to rotate. The serrated bar can be fixed to the phase shifter 2 in a certain manner. In actual applications, the specifications of the serrated pull rod 4 and the serrated bar can be set according to the needs of actual applications, and there is no restriction on this.

[0045] In actual applications, other implementation methods can also be used to ensure that the phase shifter 2 rotates when the pull rod 4 is pulled. For example, the pull rod 4 and the phase shifter 2 are connected by a transmission rope or transmission belt, and the phase shifter 2 is rotated by the transmission rope or transmission belt when the pull rod 4 is pulled. The specific method of controlling the rotation of the phase shifter 2 by the pull rod 4 can be set according to the needs of the actual application and is not limited to this.

[0046] In some embodiments, the stripline phase shifter further includes a cavity 5. Both the phase shifter plate 1 and the phase shifter sheet 2 are disposed within the cavity 5. The cavity 5 is a sealed structure that primarily protects the phase shifter plate 1, phase shifter sheet 2, pull rod 4, rotating shaft 3, and other internal structures. This protects the circuitry connected to the phase shifter sheet 2 from damage by external objects, while leaving it directly exposed to the air.

[0047] The phase shifter plate 1 and the phase shifter sheet 2 can be positioned in the middle of the cavity 5 to ensure overall balance and facilitate practical application. Specifically, a buckle, a fixing plate, or other structures can be provided within the cavity 5 to secure the phase shifter plate 1. The shape and material of the cavity 5 can be configured according to the requirements of the actual application and are not limited thereto.

[0048] The overall architecture of the stripline phase shifter in the embodiment of this specification is further described below in conjunction with Figure 6. Figure 6 shows a top view of the architecture after the aforementioned components are assembled. As can be seen from the figure, when the pull rod 4 is pulled, it can cause the serrated strips on each phase shifter 2 to move, thereby causing each phase shifter 2 to rotate. As the phase shifter 2 rotates, the length of the corresponding access circuit also changes, thereby changing the phase by changing the line length. Furthermore, the portion of the phase shifter 1 corresponding to the access circuit is an empty slot, leaving the access circuit exposed in the slot, thereby reducing line losses caused by the dielectric and achieving the corresponding technical effect.

[0049] Based on the description of the embodiments, it can be seen that the phase shifter comprises a phase shifter plate and a phase shifter sheet. The phase shifter plate has a slot on its surface and is provided with a printed circuit board. The phase shifter sheet is mounted corresponding to the slot. The phase-shifting conductor on the phase shifter sheet contacts the printed circuit board of the phase shifter plate, forming an access circuit. The access circuit changes length as the phase shifter plate rotates, thereby changing the length of the circuit connected to the printed circuit board, thereby adjusting the phase. Furthermore, the access circuit is exposed in the slot, exposing the access circuit portion directly to air, thereby avoiding circuit losses caused by the surrounding dielectric. The stripline phase shifter can adjust the phase of the circuit by changing the length of the access circuit on the phase shifter sheet, enabling the phase shifter to function properly. Furthermore, by providing the slot on the phase shifter plate and exposing the access circuit in the slot, there is no dielectric surrounding this portion of the access circuit, thus avoiding circuit losses caused by the dielectric. This significantly reduces the losses incurred by the phase shifter and the device power consumption for the same network coverage, effectively reducing the power consumption of the corresponding device and facilitating practical applications.

[0050] It should be noted that the stripline phase shifter can be applied to the technical field of phase shifters, and can also be applied to other technical fields except the technical field of phase shifters, and there is no limitation to this.

[0051] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A stripline phase shifter, characterized in that: It comprises a phase shifting plate and a phase shifting sheet arranged on the surface of the phase shifting plate; The surface of the phase shifter is provided with an empty groove; the surface of the phase shifter is a printed circuit board; The phase shifter is installed corresponding to the empty slot; a phase shifter conductor in contact with the printed circuit board is provided on a side of the phase shifter that is in contact with the phase shifter plate; a portion of the phase shifter conductor that is connected to the printed circuit board is an access circuit; the access circuit changes length when the phase shifter rotates to adjust the circuit phase; The access circuit is exposed in the empty slot; The phase shifter comprises a first dielectric substrate, a second dielectric substrate and the phase shift conductor; the second dielectric substrate and the phase shift conductor form a circuit board; the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate are pressed together, and the first dielectric substrate is provided with an empty groove for the arrangement position of the phase shift conductor.

2. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: The stripline phase shifter comprises two phase shift plates; the two phase shift plates are attached to each other; the phase shifter comprises an upper phase shifter and a lower phase shifter; the upper phase shifter and the lower phase shifter are respectively mounted on surfaces of different phase shifters.

3. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: The phase shifter is a fan-shaped phase shifter; the phase shifter rotates based on the central axis point; and the phase shift circuit is arranged based on the arc edge and the central axis point of the fan-shaped phase shifter.

4. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 3, wherein: The central axis point of the phase shifter is mounted on the phase shift plate based on the rotation axis.

5. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 4, wherein: The rotating shaft comprises a clamping structure; the clamping structure is used for clamping the rotating shafts installed with the upper phase shifter and the lower phase shifter when the upper phase shifter and the lower phase shifter are arranged on two phase shifting plates respectively.

6. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 3, wherein: The empty groove is a fan-shaped groove matching the shape of the fan-shaped phase shifter.

7. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes a pull rod, which is used to control the rotation of the phase shifter.

8. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 7, wherein: The pull rod comprises a sawtooth pull rod; a sawtooth bar matching the sawtooth pull rod is fixed on the phase shifter; when the sawtooth pull rod is pulled, the phase shifter is pulled to rotate via the sawtooth bar.

9. The stripline phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes a cavity; the phase shift plate and the phase shift sheet are arranged inside the cavity.

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